I am not a true believer in Valentine’s Day. I don’t see what all the fuss is about and I don’t know why everyone feels the pressure to do something huge and spend the day (a random day at that) with someone, anyone, just as long as you aren’t alone!
Sure, it used to be really fun in high school when the carnations were delivered in the morning to class and there was a special Valentines assembly – ours was always very funny! Someone always sent a secret admirer card (though I suspect it was my parents) and it was a great day for the ego, because well, teenagers love that crap!
Over the past 10 years or so, it’s become more and more of a non-event for me. When I was a waitress, we used to make an absolute killing in tips! We’d have at least two seatings on the day and the bills were never below R500 for two people (it was an expensive restaurant).
About 7 or 8 years ago, I was even dumped on Valentine’s Day! And after seeing him again a couple years ago, I am breathing a sigh of relief! I’ve done the single girls anti-Valentine’s day dinner with friends - always a fun night out! The last two or three years, I have had solo dates… I buy a good bottle of wine, cook myself something decadent, buy chocolate (of course!) and enjoy my own company. Because lets be honest, if you can’t love yourself, who else can?
I think that Valentine’s is just a bit too commercial… if you want to spoil your significant other, you shouldn’t need an earmarked day to do it. If you want to take me for dinner and buy me flowers (preferably not roses in summer – they never last!) and chocolate, then do it anytime. They even sell ‘love cards’ all year round. Grand and romantic gestures are SO much better when they’re unexpected!
So this year, as it stands, I am going to work out with my trainer after work, buying a perfectly cooked take away steak and going home for dinner, wine and something entertaining on my hard drive. My cat may even join me, if she doesn’t have a hot date.
But being a girl and a sometimes hopeless romantic, I’m always open to being convinced otherwise about Valentine’s Day and would even appreciate a grand gesture!
